Burnage High School’s
Media Arts college status is rapidly opening many exciting new doors for its
Students. One of these is the setting up of our own School Community Radio
Station. Broadcasting regulations allow Schools and Community groups to apply
for what amounts to legal airwave time from one day to one month (for as many
as three times a year).
During the Apartheid struggles in
South Africa a community leader called Zhane Raja harnessed the potential of
the airwaves to give a voice to his oppressed brothers and sisters. They used
the Station to broadcast messages of inspiration and hope, to vitally keep the flame
of their culture burning and spread messages for the resistance. They called
the Station Bush Radio and to this day its still part of the Townships’ cultural
lifeblood.
Zhane himself now tours the world
and has helped spread interest in this alternative model of radio. It gives a
voice to talented people not taken seriously or represented by mainstream media.
In the UK it has evolved into a direct counterbalance to the over-commercialisation
of black culture and the vapid demands of advertisers. Over the last ten Years
Community Stations in the UK have mushroomed, empowering individuals and whole
communities. Creating career opportunities in local Radio that previously never
existed, providing a medium for diverse music styles not usually catered for, giving
local organisations a more effective means of getting their message to their
target audience – these are impressive achievements.
Remember that the presenter - the
voice everyone hears - is only one cog in a shows’ machinery. Behind the scenes
he (or she) needs a good producer, researcher, interviewer or desk driver. So
get those creative juices flowing!
bmcradio.co.uk
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